Full Press Release Details
Synthetic Biologics Reports 2020 Year
End Operational Highlights and Financial Results
-- Announced Washington University
Has Begun Screening Patients for Enrollment in Phase 1b/2a Clinical Trial
of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) in Allogeneic
Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients --
-- Reports $72.6M of Cash on Hand
to Fund Clinical Programs and Extend Operations into 2023 --
-- Conference Call Today at 4:30 p.m.
MD, March 4, 2021 - Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE American: SYN),
a diversified clinical-stage company leveraging the microbiome to develop therapeutics designed to prevent and treat gastrointestinal
(GI) diseases in areas of high unmet need, today provided a clinical programs update and reported
financial results for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Recent developments:
Upcoming milestones:
"We are more encouraged than ever
by the outlook for the business as we have made important progress during the fourth quarter advancing and demonstrating the significant
value of our clinical development programs. With a number of upcoming catalysts later this year, we believe there is potential
to continue to deliver significant value for our shareholders," stated Steven A. Shallcross, Chief Executive and Financial
Officer. "IRB approval by Washington University of the SYN-004 Phase 1b/2a clinical program protocol marks a major milestone
for the Company. Looking ahead, we believe SYN-004 has the potential to address an important and underserved patient population,
and may significantly improve outcomes for allogeneic HCT recipients by preventing downstream complications often associated with
disruption of the gut microbiome by intravenous ("IV") beta-lactam antibiotics. We are pleased to announce that Washington
University has begun screening patients for enrollment of the first of three sequential antibiotic cohorts and look forward to
reporting topline data for this group towards the end of this year, pandemic conditions permitting."
Mr. Shallcross continued,
"During the fourth quarter of 2020, we also made significant progress and gained additional clarity on potential
clinical development pathways for our SYN-020 IAP program. Looking ahead, we intend to commence safety studies starting with
a planned Phase 1 single-ascending-dose study in healthy volunteers during the second quarter of 2021; a topline data readout
is expected during the third quarter of 2021. A second Phase 1 multiple-ascending-dose study is also expected to begin
enrollment during the third quarter of 2021. Both studies are designed to support the advancement of SYN-020 in multiple
potential therapeutic indications, including celiac disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease ("NAFLD") and
age-related metabolic and inflammatory diseases. We are very excited about the potential for
this program to be a long-term value driver for our Company and look forward to sharing important updates and progress as we
continue to advance it towards clinical trials."
Mr. Shallcross concluded, "While
remaining keenly focused on the execution of our clinical development activities, we also significantly strengthened our balance
sheet and raised net proceeds of approximately $63.8 million, in addition to $8.0 million in proceeds from the cash exercise of
warrants, which has helped to streamline our capital structure. As a result of these activities, our current cash position is approximately
$72.6 million. Our fortified financial footing will now allow the Company to continue its operations into 2023 as well as fully
fund the Phase 1b/2a clinical trial of SYN-004 and our planned Phase 1 safety studies of SYN-020 IAP."
Clinical Development and Operational
Year Ended December 31, 2020 Financial
General and administrative expenses increased
to $5.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $4.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. This increase of
8.7% is due to increased legal costs related to business development, patent execution, employee contract matters, vacation expense,
insurance costs and registration fees. The charge relating to stock-based compensation expense was $300,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2020, compared to $300,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Research and development expenses decreased
to $5.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2020, from $11.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. This decrease of
54.1% is primarily due to a reduction in preclinical and manufacturing activity of SYN-020 IAP and the result of the response to
the global COVID-19 pandemic by our clinical development partners which led to the postponement of the Phase 1b/2a clinical trial
of SYN-004 (ribaxamase) in allogeneic HCT recipients and the SYN-010 clinical trial and to a lesser extent the discontinuation
of the Phase 2b investigator sponsored clinical trial of SYN-010. Research and development expenses also include a charge relating
to non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $66,000 for the year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $75,000 for the year
ended December 31, 2019.
Total other income was $44,000 for the
year ended December 31, 2020, compared to other income of $283,000 for the year ended December 31, 2019. Total other income for
the year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 is primarily comprised of interest income from investments.
Cash and cash equivalents on December 31,
2020 were $6.2 million, a decrease of $8.8 million from December 31, 2019.
Synthetic Biologics will hold a
conference call today, Thursday, March 4, 2021, at 4:30 p.m. (EST). The dial-in
information for the call is as follows, U.S. toll free: 1-888-347-5280 or International: +1 412-902-4280. Participants are
asked to dial in 15 minutes before the start of the call to register. The call will also be webcast over the Internet at https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1096/39984.
An archive of the call will be available for replay at the same URL, https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/1096/39984,
for 90 days after the call.
About Synthetic Biologics, Inc.
Synthetic Biologics, Inc. (NYSE American:
SYN) is a diversified clinical-stage company leveraging the microbiome to develop therapeutics designed to prevent and treat gastrointestinal
(GI) diseases in areas of high unmet need. The Company's lead candidates are: (1) SYN-004 (ribaxamase) which is designed
to degrade certain commonly used intravenous (IV) beta-lactam antibiotics within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract to prevent (a)
microbiome damage, (b) Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), (c) overgrowth of pathogenic organisms, (d) the emergence
of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and (e) acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGVHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant
(HCT) recipients, and (2) SYN-020, a recombinant oral formulation of the enzyme intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) produced
under cGMP conditions and intended to treat both local GI and systemic diseases. For more information, please visit Synthetic
Biologics' website at www.syntheticbiologics.com.
This release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases forward-looking statements
can be identified by terminology such as "may," "should," "potential," "continue," "expects,"
"anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," and similar expressions,
and include statements regarding cash runway providing funding into 2023 and the ability to fully fund the Phase 1b/2a clinical
trial of SYN-004 and planned Phase 1 safety studies of SYN-020 intestinal alkaline phosphatase, topline data of the first antibiotic
cohort in the SYN-004 Phase 1b/2a clinical program being readout during Q4 2021, commencing the first Phase 1 single-ascending-dose
study of SYN-020 during Q2 2021 and providing topline data during Q3 2021, commencing the second Phase 1 multiple-ascending-dose
study of SYN-020 during Q3 2021 and providing topline data during Q2 2022, continuing to deliver significant value for shareholders,
the potential of SYN-004 to address an important and underserved patient population, and significantly improve outcomes for allogeneic
HCT recipients by preventing downstream complications often associated with disruption of the gut microbiome by intravenous beta-lactam
antibiotics, and the potential for SYN-020 to be a long term value driver. These forward-looking statements are based on
management's expectations and assumptions as of the date of this press release and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties,
many of which are difficult to predict that could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions
from those set forth or implied by any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from current expectations include, among others, a failure to receive the necessary regulatory approvals for commercialization
of Synthetic Biologics' therapeutics, a failure of Synthetic Biologics' clinical trials, and those conducted by investigators,
for SYN-004 and SYN-020 to be commenced or completed as planned, or a failure to provide topline data when anticipated or to achieve
desired results and benefits, a failure of Synthetic Biologics' clinical trials to continue enrollment as expected or receive
anticipated funding, a failure of Synthetic Biologics to successfully develop, market or sell its products, Synthetic Biologics'
inability to maintain its material licensing agreements, or a failure by Synthetic Biologics or its strategic partners to successfully
commercialize products and other factors described in Synthetic Biologics' most recent Form 10-K and its other filings with
the SEC, including subsequent periodic reports on Forms 10-Q and 8-K. The information in this release is provided only as of the